đ° New article from Retro Handhelds
Oblast Elevates Classic Blasto Gameplay on Commodore 64
https://retrohandhelds.gg/oblast-elevates-classic-blasto-gameplay-on-commodore-64/
Imagine a 1978 arcade game that somehow got a caffeine IV drip and a synthwave makeoverâwelcome to Oblast, the Commodore 64âs most gloriously chaotic reboot since⌠well, ever.
Cameron Kaiser didnât just update Blastoâhe turned it into a full-on sensory explosion. Where the original cramped everything into 2K of ROM, Oblast serves up 384 procedurally generated levels, customizable tank stats, and trails that look like a fireworks show in a paint factory. And yesâyou can shoot during chain reactions now. No more waiting for the chaos to calm down. Just blast, burn, and repeat.
But hereâs the magic trick: all of this runs on a 40-year-old machine. The SID chip isnât just playing soundsâitâs controlling screen shake. Voice 1? Gunfire. Voice 2? Tank engine revving as you move. Voice 3? Explosions that literally make the screen wobble. And at 240Hz, your tank moves smoother than a jazz sax solo.
Even the memory hacks are geniusâthree sprites for one tank, color mode tricks that save 75% of RAM. Itâs like building a Ferrari out of bicycle parts and then winning the Indy 500.
Grab it on GitHub. Play it on your C64. Then buy the dev a Pibb. You owe him.